Trump backtracks, says farmers might still use migrant labor if they “take full responsibility”
President Donald Trump said on Friday that farmers may be able to keep employing undocumented migrant workers without fearing enforcement raids, as long as they agree to take “responsibility” for them. “We’re looking at doing something where in the case of good, reputable farmers, they can take responsibility for the people that they hire, and let them have responsibility, because we can’t put the farms out of business, and at the same time, we don’t want to hurt people that aren’t criminals,” Trump told press on Friday.
It remains unclear how this proposed system would function. The remark marks yet another shift in messaging around enforcement priorities for undocumented workers in the U.S., especially in labor-heavy industries. Just last week, Trump suggested migrants employed in farming and related sectors might be shielded from workplace raids, citing concerns about economic disruption.
After those remarks, internal ICE communications reportedly advised staff to reduce raids and arrests in agriculture, hospitality, and restaurant sectors. But the reprieve didn’t last. By Sunday, Trump reversed course via Truth Social, announcing what he called the “single largest Mass Deportation Program in History,” emphasizing crackdowns in Democrat-led urban centers.
By Tuesday, ICE operations appeared to resume at full force. Agents carried out a large-scale raid at Delta Downs, a horse racing track in Vinton, Louisiana, detaining nearly 100 equine caretakers. Some workers reportedly fled the scene as drones flew overhead, according to Eric J. Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.
On Thursday, White House border czar Tom Homan confirmed that enforcement will proceed at places like hotels and farms, but added that agents will prioritize individuals with criminal records. Trump’s new comments appear to further muddle that stance, leaving employers and workers alike in a state of uncertainty.
Undocumented immigrants make up roughly 4.6% of the U.S. workforce—over 7 million people—with many concentrated in agriculture, hospitality, and construction, according to The Guardian. Amid the enforcement uptick, fear is spreading among workers. A Bloomberg report noted that the U.S. labor force declined in May, partly due to a drop in the number of foreign-born workers.
Shay Myers, who runs one of the nation’s largest onion farms in Parma, Idaho, voiced alarm: “We will not feed our people without these workers,” he said, citing Department of Agriculture data estimating over 40% of the farming workforce is undocumented.
The uncertainty has already disrupted key industries. In California, employers in Ventura County’s agriculture sector and downtown Los Angeles’ Fashion District reported noticeable worker absences after the June 6 ICE operation. The Fashion District noted a 40% drop in casual visits and a 24% decline in employee attendance.
Sources - https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5361679-trump-suggests-farmers-may-get-to-keep-undocumented-workers-after-all/
https://www.axios.com/2025/06/20/trump-immigration-raids-farms
This article is informed by reputable journalism, including reporting from The Hill, Axios, Reuters, San Francisco Chronicle, and New York Post. These outlets collectively detail President Trump’s evolving immigration policy concerning farm labor—highlighting announcements, internal ICE directives, regional reactions, and economic impacts .
